Background
Fujiwara no Kamatari was born in 614.
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Fujiwara no Kamatari
Edit Profile藤原鎌足
Career
Fujiwara no Kamatari was the first ancestor of the Fujiwara family which was influential in the Imperial Court for many centuries. He was also known as Kamako and his original surname was Nakatomi. The Nakatomis descended from Ameno-koyane-no-mikoto, a deity in the mythical age, and were in charge of ceremonies. Kamatari, together with the Mononobes, opposed Buddhism and feuded with the Sogas who were for Buddhism. Together with Prince Nakano-oe (later Emperor Tenchi), Kamatari planned to destroy Iruka and Emishi of the Soga Family who wielded despotic power in the Imperial Court.
In 645, taking advantage of the Court function of receiving a Korean envoy, Prince Nakano-oe, with a long spear, and Kamatari, with bow and arrow, killed Iruka, in the Taigokuden, or Main Hall, of the Palace, and Emishi at his residence. After Emperor Kotoku ascended the Throne, Kamatari was appointed Minister of the Interior and carried out the Reform the Taika Era and established an Imperial central government for entire Japan.
By order of Emperor Tenchi, he codified laws. Because at the time the Imperial Palace was located at Otsu (Omi Province), by Lake Biwa, the laws were called Omi Laws. In the second year of Emperor Ten- chi's reign, Kamatari was taken ill and the emperor called on him at his home when his condition became serious and appointed him Minister of the Left and conferred upon him the Taishokukan (highest Court rank) and the family name of Fujiwara.
